HP Launches New Middleware-Engineering Initiative to Help Users Deploy Distributed OLTP; Initiative Targets Mainframe OLTP Users; Includes HP Encina 9000 1.1 and CICS for HP 9000 1.3

Business Wire, Jan 30, 1995

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 1995-- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced a middleware (mid)-engineering initiative designed to reduce deployment time for business-critical distributed OLTP. The initiative helps users reduce costs through mainframe re-hosting or gain a greater competitive advantage through deploying flexible, mid-engineered solutions. HP's mid-engineering initiative aims to provide a low-risk way for customers to start experiencing payback from an enterprise, client/server approach.

With HP's new initiative, HP brings together its own and third-party product and consulting expertise in middleware software, mainframe downsizing and re-engineering into a focused approach. HP's mid-engineering initiative offers consulting, comprehensive architectural and transition services, transition centers and worldwide support. It helps customers implement distributed OLTP according to their unique business requirements. Existing OLTP-based applications can be integrated into a flexible, open enterprise-computing environment.

HP's mid-engineering approach aims to retain centralized OLTP advantages, such as security, high availability and "central control" while adding greater flexibility for faster time to market and more usable applications, giving customers a competitive advantage.

MID-ENGINEERING

HP's mid-engineering implementation strategy for distributed OLTP provides education, consulting and services through the HP Professional Services Organization (PSO) and key HP Channel Partners. The HP PSO offers a comprehensive suite of open-systems, transition-planning, implementation and education services. A PSO core competency is helping customers move to open, enterprise client/server computing. As part of the PSO's overall architectural approach, specific services help users implement distributed OLTP. These include identifying business roles for flexible information technology (IT), IT architecture planning, core technology evaluation, solution integration, customized education, project management and organizational-change management.

HP has set up a number of PSO-based, distributed OLTP technology enabling groups worldwide. These groups include HP technical consultants who specialize in working with local customers to implement HP Encina/9000 and CICS/9000 locally. Consulting services provide the ability to implement and customize HP Encina/9000 1.1 using various HP technologies that enhance its ability to run business-critical applications.

HP also works with key HP Channel Partners worldwide that have the knowledge and mainframe expertise to provide services and tools to help customers migrate from centralized CICS OLTP to distributed OLTP on HP 9000 systems.

Key systems integrators include Accelerated Solutions, Inc., Circle Group, Ltd.; Denkart n.v.; EMS Ingenieurgesellschaft, mbH; IBS Conversions; Japan Information Engineering Co. Ltd.; and Orbit, Ltd. HP also has formed partnerships with leading ISVs and tools providers such as Haltek; Brixton Systems, Inc.; Compuware Corp.; (CNT); Worldwide Chain Stores Systems Inc.; Open Environment Corp.; and Magna Software Corp. to enable rapid development and deployment of client/server solutions.

HP ENCINA/9000 1.1 & CICS/9000 1.3

HP also announced HP Encina/9000 1.1, whose enhancements include a COBOL API, more robustness and better performance. Only HP's Encina/9000 has improved usability, through a new local and remote configuration facility, and is integrated with HP's SoftBench development environment for greater programmer productivity. HP also provides consulting to more tightly integrate HP Encina/9000 into users' business-critical enterprise client/server environments. HP Encina/9000 also can be integrated with HP's new high-availability solution, MC/ServiceGuard and HP OpenView OperationsCenter.

HP also announced CICS/9000 1.3, an enhanced version of its UNIX(R) system-based CICS solution. CICS/9000 now performs as fast as the fastest CICS alternatives on the market, HP believes. CICS/9000 includes the same features as IBM's latest release of CICS/6000. Additionally, it is more scalable and includes integration with SoftBench from HP to speed up application development and debugging.

U.S. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

HP also provides consulting to tightly integrate CICS/9000 into users' enterprise client/server environments. CICS/9000 can be integrated with HP's new high-availability product, MC ServiceGuard, to provide a highly available CICS/9000 solution.

Both HP Encina/9000 1.1 and CICS/9000 1.3 are available now. HP Encina/9000 range in price from $150 to $45,000. HP CISC/9000 range in price from $150 to $177,350.

HP is the second-largest computer supplier in the United States, with computer-related revenue of $19.6 billion in its 1994 fiscal year.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications, and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 98,400 employees and had revenue of $25 billion in its 1994 fiscal year.